The Interior of the Main Dome

Explore the Taj Mahal - Virtual Tour




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The dome on the Taj Mahal is double-skinned. This is a device often used by architects to maintain proportion and volume to both the interior and exterior of a building,




as for example, at St Paul's Cathedral in London.




The inner dome is an umbrella to the central octagonal room. Four rectangular rooms are situated to the sides and four octagonal rooms flank the four corners. The inner layer of the dome, like the exterior, is made of creamy white marble.




Three-dimensional geometric decoration and a central inlaid motif highlight the interior of the dome. With its solar design, this central motif is from where Lord Curzon's lamp now hangs. Following the theme of light, the imitation of the sun could be seen to symbolize Allah's divine presence within the tomb of his devout servant.